Subject: [Losses 1+2] [SM fanfic]
From: terrin@netcom.com (Isabel Arantes)
Date: 6/20/1996, 5:43 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com

	Well, for those that asked to see the first two chapters, here
it is.


                Yet another Sailor Moon fanfic
 
                        Losses, part 1
        Written by a silly girl by the name of Isabel Arantes
           Copyrights goes to whomever it belongs to
                
           
 
 
        Mamoru didn't want to sleep. Rarely did he ever want to.
 Because he knew that with sleep, came dreams as well.
 
        From an early age, Mamoru had a single dream that
 haunted him every night; in it, a beautiful woman begged him to
 find the ginzishiou. From her head flowed two long trails of hair
 connected by two balls on her head, and a bright yellow crescent
 moon shinned on her forehead. She was almost... magical, as
 she stood in front of a large crescent moon, begging him to bring
 him the ginzishiou. Tears filled her eyes as she pleaded with him,
 her voice wavery. He knew she had lost everything dear to her
 from the mournful expression that radiated from her face. He also
 knew that there was a strong bond between them, though
 Mamoru hadn't know what. He strongly suspected it was love,
 but was too embarrassed to admit it.
 
        It wasn't for nearly two decades that he finally found the
 ginzishiou, met the girl of his dreams (literally!) and was finally
 granted the peace of normal and varying dreams. Never before
 had he been so happy, finally reunited with Usagi, formally known
 as Princess Serenity. She was wildly different from the way she
 was in her past life, but she was still the same person at heart,
 and that was all that mattered. Besides, Mamoru loved Usagi.
 Endymion loved Serenity. It was that simple.
 
        Of course, peace never lasts.
 
 
 
        "Mamo-chan, finally we can finally live happily ever after..."
 Sighed Usagi, her soft smile reflecting the happiness in her heart.
 Mamoru was also smiling at his soon-to-be-wife, his heart sharing
 the same joy hers was, yet there was an overpowering sense of
 dread at the same time. "You don't know how long I've waited
 for this day." He shouldn't be doing this. He knew nothing good
 would come out of this. But it felt so right. They loved each other
 so much. How could it be wrong?
 
        Usagi closed her eyes, and Mamoru did so too as they
 leaned in for what they thought would be the kiss that would link
 them forever. But in truth, it would be their last...
 
        He got one last look of his saddened beloved before his
 world exploded to pieces. Literally.  Despair flamed in his heart
 when he found himself alone in a dark, hazy place, with an
 image of Usagi's death in the explosion flashing through his
 mind as his only comfort. His grief formed by one word, he
 held his hand out, desperately screaming out "USAKO!!"
 
        He collapsed to his knees, unable to deal with the grief
 washing over him. A voice, which he had grown to despise,
 called out to him, "Prince Endymion..." Even if Mamoru hated
 the voice, in some ways it was a huge relief to hear it. Because
 he knew then that this was only the dream, and he could still
 save Usako from the horrifying explosion he had just witnessed.
 He still had a chance at saving her.
 
        Snarling, "Who are you? Can't you ever leave me alone?!?"
 
        "As long as stay close to Princess Serenity, she will be
 in danger, and so will the rest of the world." Mamoru clenched
 his fists, wishing he could hit his invisible adversary, but the
 best he could do was to speak rudely to him.
 
        "How can I believe you? This is just a dream, nothing
 more!"
 
        "What I am telling you is the truth, Prince Endymion. If
 you truly care for Princess Serenity's welfare you'll keep your
 distance from her."
 
        "I don't believe you! Liar!" Before Mamoru had a chance
 to insult and to speak of his disbelief in him anymore, he woke
 up with a start, drenched in sweat. He allowed himself a few
 seconds to regulate his breathing before he started to seriously
 think of what he had just seen. While breathing in and out slowly
 helped calm him down a little, the sight of Usagi's death had
 left him extremly unseasy and no matter what he did, he wasn't
able to soothe out his feelings of panic completely.
 
        Having stretched, he walked to his balcony, hoping that
 the cool night air would lessen his intense feelings of fear, and
 allow him to think more clearly. He was sure that if he could
 push his emotions aside, he would be able to make the right
 choice without any regrets and be free of any worries of whether
 what he was doing was correct. However, like most humans he
 was plagued by emotions, and his choices were often based
 upon only his feelings, for the better or the worse.
 
        That voice, for example. He had never heard of it
 until he started getting this dream, and only in them did he
 hear it. Nor had he said anything to Mamoru that would
 show he was trustworthy. But for some reason, Mamoru
 knew that if there was one person he could trust, it was that
 man. Just from hearing this voice repeat itself in his dreams
 did Mamoru base this conclusion. Sometimes he really
 had to wonder about his logic.
 
        Below, he saw what could be identified as two lovers.
 It was too far away to be sure, but Mamoru was quite certain
 that they were out on a date, and probably having the time
 of their lives. 'Why,' he wondered, 'Can't I ever be with her?'
 
        He never got an answer.
 
 
 
 
        Usagi sat on her bed, with the infamous cover decorated
 by bunnies and crescent moons. Perhaps she would have
 found some humor from the childish bed covering, but she was
 too deep in thought. Which was quite amazing, considering her
 character.
 
        Luna was trying to tell her something, but like almost
 everything the black cat (not to mention everyone else) told her,
 the information went through one ear and out the other. It
 wasn't until she mentioned something totally off-topic that Luna
 noticed, though. "Luna, what could possibly make Mamo-chan
 break up with me?" The cat sighed with exasperation, and
 jumped onto the bed next to the blonde.
 
        "Do you do this to me on purpose?"
 
        "Do what?"
 
        "Every time I start talking about something important,
 you go and start thinking about Mamoru-san! I understand that
 you love him, but Usagi-chan, everybody needs to be alone with
 their thoughts sometimes. Give him time, he'll come back."
 
        "Its been four weeks and eight days, Luna. It doesn't take
 that long for anyone to sort out their feelings."
 
        "Baka Usagi." A young voice said, not to different
 from Usagi's own voice, just slightly higher. "There's seven
 days in a week. That'd mean that Mamoru dumped you five
 weeks and a day ago." Usagi cringed at the word 'dumped'.
 
        "What do you know, Chibi-usa? And Mamo-chan didn't
 dump me! He just... he just..." Usagi found that she couldn't
 say anything else, mainly because she didn't have anymore
 excuses. Whatever was wrong with Mamoru was beyond her
 understanding.
 
        "You're so dumb, Usagi. Its so obvious that he doesn't
 care anymore. After all, what has he done for you lately?"
 Chibi-usa questioned smugly. She loved rubbing in the fact that
 Mamoru preferred her over Usagi.
 
        Chibi-usa had expected Usagi to start giving off a list
 of meaningless things. Or to yell for her to get out. So she was
 very surprised to see Usagi give her a long, sad look, and then
 for her to glance to the crescent moon. Silence filled the room
 as Chibi-usa realized her blunder, until finally she started to
 apologize. "Usagi-" The young girl didn't bother to say anymore,
 as Usagi had already wordlessly left the room. Lifting her right
 fist to her chest, Chibi-usa quietly apologized to her namesake,
 having intended on only teasing the crybaby. Instead, she had
 hurt her.
 
 
 
        'Get over him? How can I?' Were Usagi's thoughts as
 she walked through Tokyo's dimly lit streets. 'I've been in love
 with him from before I can remember... even if I wanted to, I
 couldn't give up on him. I don't know how.' Involuntarily, her
 mind went over some memories of her past life...
 
 
 
        'Run.' A voice in Princess Serenity commanded. 'Run
 harder'. This task was particularly hard for Princess Serenity, not
 because of her physical condition, but because of her attire. She
 tripped with every step on her once snow-white dress, which was
 now unfit for a beggar. From the hem to halfway through her
 lower leg, the dress was torn; the pure white was now streaked
 with dirt, grass stains and smelled strongly of sweat. Princess
 Serenity did not care for these things. All she wanted was to get
 away.
        However, despite what Princess Serenity's mind and
 heart wanted, her body could only take so much torture. She
 collapsed in an unfamiliar field, where she spent a few minutes
 regaining her breath.
 
        Now that she no longer needed to concentrate on running,
 her mind started to ask itself why she had ran away, and before
 she could think better, she began to remember. Something about
 her father. He was dead. Now why was he dead?
 
        He had been poisoned. When Princess Serenity heard the
 news of her dear father's death, she had fled the palace, mainly
 because she was so upset, but also because... well, because she
 was afraid. There had never been any complaints as to the Royal
 family or how things were being run, so it was a huge shock
 when her father had been poisoned, right out of the blue. And
 Princess Serenity adored her father...
 
        Princess Serenity's train of thought was broken when she
 heard a twig snap softly behind her. Turning cautiously, she saw a
 semi-familiar man. She knew him to be royalty from his armor
 and sword, but it took her a second to remember who he was.
 Prince Endymion of Earth, she named him as he sat next to her.
 
        "Are you all right?" He asked gently, not meaning to
 pry. Of course he already knew what the problem was as he
 had offered to help search for her, but he wanted to help comfort
 her, and thought that maybe by speaking her problems she
 would calm down a little.
 
        She barely knew him. But something about him made her
 trust him instantly. Abandoning all of the manners and Princess
 habits she had attained in her lifetime, she threw herself in his arms
 and began to cry. When the worst of her tears were over, she told
 him how much she hated her life. All these politics. Living in a
 palace. Always treated in the most formal manner. Never thought
 of anything else other than a Princess. Her father's unexpected
 death, and her new fears. In other words, everything.
 
        After she had finished her tale, she pulled away from him,
 embarrassed at her behavior. "I'm sorry to bother you with this.
 Please forgive my rudeness."
        Prince Endymion felt his heart go out to this delicate woman;
 before, he had viewed her as just another person, but after this...
 
        He said nothing in response to Princess Serenity's
 apology. Instead, he held something out to her. Never, not in
 a million years, did Princess Serenity expect receive the present
 she just had. The mere sight of it took her breath away, and as
 she held it in her own hand she found that she could not find
 any words to say.
 
        It was a rose.
 
        On the Moon, roses where non-existent. Princess Serenity
 had seen a rose only a few time in her life, and this was the first
 time she ever owned one. In full bloom, the rose was perfect in
 size, shape and color. It was beautiful. "I hope this will give you
 some comfort, little as it is, Serenity." 'Serenity'? She thought,
 surprised that he called her that. 'I like that... just Serenity'. She
 looked up to him, smiling with her heart, instead of with her
 manners. And he smiled back, as he took her right hand his,
 kissing it gently. Their smiles would be described as goofy by
 children, but was known to be the beginning of love among
 adults.
 
        Or, as some think, the beginning of pain.
 
 
 
        'How could you do this to me?' She asked, for the
 millionth time. 'If you were going to do this to me, why did
 you ever let me fall in love with you?'
 
        What to most people appeared to be a silly infatuation,
 Usagi held in her heart a love doomed to last for all of eternity.
 Nothing had ever managed to pull them apart, not even jealous
 forces of evil or death. Usagi just couldn't accept Mamoru's
 decision to split, especially not when they finally had a chance
 to happily ever after. She knew that there was a reason behind
 his sudden change of heart, and as soon as she discovered the
 cause, she'd fix the problem. Of course, Mamoru wasn't willing
 to let out any clues why he dumped her.
 
        It occurred to Usagi around then to look at where she
 was at. In front of her laid an apartment building, one that
 Usagi had grown quite familiar with over the past few months.
 It was where Mamoru lived.
 
        'I wonder...' She realized that the lights were on in
 Mamoru's apartment, and without stopping to think about
 the issues of being welcome or not, she entered the apartment
 building.
 
 
        Not wishing to risk the chance of having another
 nightmare, Mamoru hadn't gone to bed, instead, he was
 reading a book on his couch. To have that nightmare once
 in a night was bad enough, but twice was horrendous. And
 he knew better than to think that it wouldn't happen.
 
        He was in the middle of a fascinating article about
 rumors of the findings of an ancient civilization on the Moon
 when the doorbell rang. A bit bewildered to be have company
 arriving at this hour, he opened his front door. And for some
 reason, he wasn't all that surprised to see Usagi standing in
 front of him. "Usagi? What are you doing here?"
 
        "Well, I was going for a walk and I just happened to
 pass by- Mamo-chan, where are you going?"
 
        "To get dressed. I'm walking you home."
 
        "Mamo-chan, does this mean that?..."
 
        He cut her off before she could question the current
 status of his love for her. "Don't get the wrong idea, its just
 not safe to walk alone at night, even if you're Sailor Moon."
 
        "Oh. But why don't we take your motorcycle?..."
        "My car is being fixed, and I lent my motorcycle to
 Motoki for his date tonight."
 
        'Darn," Thought Usagi as she waited for Mamoru, 'So
 much for holding onto him as we rode his cycle.'
 
 
 
        The two waked in silence, as Usagi debated whether to ask
 him her question or not. Finally, after she could no longer bear the
 eerie silence between them, she asked, "Mamo-chan, why don't you...
 love me anymore?"
 
        Mamoru came to a quick halt, and he impatiently answered her
 with, "Must you ask me that question every time you see me?" He
 continued, though now his voice was more stressed, "It's over, that's
 all that matters." His heart was already twisting in agony from having
 been forced to utter such cruel words to the girl he loved, but what
 Usagi said next nearly stopped it altogether.
 
        "I guess you want me to get over you."
 
        Mamoru was unable to say anything for a few seconds, mainly
 because he had no idea what to respond with. He wanted Usagi to
 always love him, to hold her during her darkest moments and to see
 her hair glistening in the sun as she laughed. He wanted to be with her
 so badly it hurt. But more than anything, he wanted her to be safe.
 Even if it was without him. Once he felt he could say something
 without breaking down in the middle of the sentence, he said (although
 in a still somewhat strangled voice), "You do what you want."
 
        A sob raised in Usagi's throat, and in order to keep it from
 spreading into tears, she kept quiet. What could she say in response to
 that, anyway? She looked up to him, wanting to see his handsome face,
 knowing that it'd be just as cruel as his words were. But his face was
 not facing her, and for the first time, Usagi realized he never looked
 at her straight in the eye anymore. Or at all. In an act of random anger
 and curiosity, she twisted his head so that she could see his face. A
 gasp replaced her sob as she stepped back in disbelief, unable to
 believe what see was seeing.
        In the brilliant light of the full moon, the tears in Mamoru's eyes
 were very obvious, as they shinned in the light. A single tear had
 already ran its course down his right cheek. Before Usagi could
 question the cause of the tears, Mamoru turned back and fled.
 
        That night, two lonely hearts wept bitterly, wishing only to be
 in the other's arms. But not even that, the simplest of wishes, could
be granted to them.
 
 


                Yet Another Sailor Moon fanfic
        
                        Losses, part 2
        Written by a silly girl by the name of Isabel Arantes
             Copyright goes to whomever it belongs to
 
 
        Mamoru was busy staring out into space when he felt 
 tug at his pants. Looking down, he saw a huge mass of pink
 hair, divided into short streams of hair tied at the ends with two
 odangos. He immediately recognized the hair as Chibi-usa's,
 and bent down to scruffle it. "Hi, Chibi-usa."
 
        "Mamo-chan, what are you looking at?" She asked, her
 face now tilted up to get a better view of the man she was
 talking to.
 
        "Nothing. Um, Chibi-usa, did you come here with
 anyone?" He knew she hated always having somebody with her,
 but for the sake of her safety, he had to ask her.
 
        Frowning, "Yeah, Usagi was with me, but she's in a store
 buying tons of clothes. It was way too boring to watch her try
 out clothes, so I left." Mamoru smiled, having already gone
 shopping with his ex-girlfriend, and knowing how tiresome being
 downtown and with Usagi could be. It required allot of stamina
 and patience.
 
        "There you are, Chibi-usa, didn't I tell you not to run
 ahead?" Usagi scolded as she tried to look past a mountain of
 boxes.
 
        "You were taking too long." Chibi-usa replied curtly.
 
        "Was not! You're just-" Usagi at that point saw Mamoru,
 who had been trying to slip away quietly as the two girls argued.
 "Mamo-chan...." Chibi-usa moaned inwardly; she hated how
 Usagi was forever embarrassing her in front of Mamoru with
 all this dumb 'destiny' stuff. She wished she'd just take a hint
 and bug off.
 
        But to both Chibi-usa's and Mamoru's surprise, Usagi
 greeted Mamoru, and then told Chibi-usa that they had better
 start heading for home, since they had to be back within an hour.
 
        Not a word came from Mamoru's mouth as the two
 girls left in the direction for home, Chibi-usa waving good-bye
 to him happily, and Usagi never looking back. If he didn't know
 better, he'd say Usagi was... ignoring him.
 
         As Usagi led her fake cousin home, Chibi-usa couldn't
 resist asking, "Are you all right?"
 
        Trying to hide a glance back at Mamoru, "I'm fine."
 Chibi-usa instantly recognized the falsity in Usagi's statement,
 but said nothing, thrilled by her attempt on giving up on Mamoru.
 
        Needless to say, Mamoru was far from pleased by her
 behavior. However, he suppressed the need to run up to her
 and apologize, just as Usagi was resisting the urge to find out
 just what was up last night. But they both assumed control
 over themselves and continued about their tasks, acting as if
 nothing was bothering them.
        
 
 
 
        In the cool shade of the tree sat a sailor warrior, her
 secret identify known only to a few close friends, and for
 now her sailor senshi duties were pushed aside and enjoyed
 a day in the peaceful life of Hino Rei. A giggle or two emitted
 from her smiling lips as she read the comedic adventures or
 another sailor warrior, and a close friend of hers, Sailor V.
 
        Her surroundings were rather nice... a few birds
 hopping on the most green grass searching for their next meal
 (ants), a gentle breeze helping to alleviate the heat, a pair of legs,
 children playing ball nearby... a pair of legs?
 
        Looking up to see to whom the pair of legs dressed in
 grey khaki belonged to, Rei's cheerful expression faded. It
 was Mamoru.
 
        Once, in a year that had ceased to exist in the memory
 of average people, Rei had been infatuated with that man.
 Instantly attracted to his sharp looks and his gentle teasing nature,
 Rei shortly afterwards managed to take him out on a date. And
 quite a few others, as time rolled by.  Back then she hadn't
 noticed that it was a one-sided relationship, and that he was too
 busy with his own affairs to start caring about Rei.
         After she had learned about his past life though, and his
 undying love for Usagi, Rei quickly laid off her hands on him.
 They had remained friends, though now Rei was more bitter
 towards him for having dumped Usagi so harshly.
 
        "Konnichiwa, Mamoru-san." 
 
        "Rei," He started, obviously having a hard time choosing
 his words, "Can you help me?" That got Rei's attention.
 Mamoru generally gave out help, not asked for it. Setting
 her manga down in her lap, Rei asked him what was the
 problem. "I already know you are skilled enough to read fire,
 Rei, but I need to check if you can consult the fire on dreams."
 
        "I can do so with my own, but I've never tried it with
 somebody else's. I would need very precise details on the
 dream; can you provide me with that, Mamoru-san?" He
 nodded.
 
        "Also, whenever I look at a certain item, it reacts in a
 certain way, Do you think it would help you?..."
 
        "It might. Do you have it with you?"
 
        "Yeah. But first, you have to promise me not to
 breathe a word of this to anyone, especially not Usagi. Got
 that?" Rei was rather insulted by his last remark.
 
        "Geez, Mamoru-san, I'm trying to help you!" Taking
 a deep breath,
 
        "I'm sorry, Rei. I've been dealing with this dream every
 night now, its making me tense. And I've never talked about
 this to anyone, I'm just trying to learn how to deal with it."
 Reaching into the pocket of his leather jacket, Mamoru handed
 Rei a rectangular object, who raised an eyebrow at the sight of
 it.
 
        "Mamoru-san, why is it cracked?" It was a photo,
 capturing one of the few happy moments shared between
 Usagi and Mamoru as they sat next to each other posing for
 the picture. There was a large crack running through one end
 to another, and other several cracks near it. It took a few minutes
 to make sense of the photo, the cracks were so numerous and
 distracting. 
 
        "Well, you see, sometimes when I wake up, I look at the
 picture and..." His lowered his voice a great deal, "It cracks. By
 itself. And then Usako falls over, almost as if she were... if she
 were..." Taking another deep breath, his voice now barely
 audible, "dead." Rei paled, being able to tell from Mamoru's
 deadpan expression that he wasn't joking.
 
        "I think you better tell me more about this on our way
 to the shrine, Mamoru-san."
 
 
        'I'm getting too soft,' Observed Chibi-usa, as she walked
 through the park and kicking a pebble, 'Here I am, meant to be
 finding the ginzishiou to help mommy, and instead I'm going to
 a shopping spree with ditzy old Usagi. What would 'Pu say?'
 Annoyed by her baby-sitter's child-like attitude, the young child
 had easily managed to slip away from Usagi's unobservant eye as
 she drooled in front of a candy store, planning to look for the
 ginzishiou again. It had to be here somewhere, and wherever it
 was, Chibi-usa would get it and save her parents.
 
        Chibi-usa's thoughts on her mission were cut short when
 something caught her eye; Mamoru and Rei were talking. Not
 that unusual, but they both look extremely serious, as they
 seemed to be discussing the thing that Rei held in her hand.
 Expecting the worse, Chibi-usa set out to use the spying skills
 she had gained while in the past to check out what they were
 up to. That is, until a hand grabbed hers arm. Chibi-usa looked
 up in alarm, expecting to see one of the four dark sisters there.
 Instead, it was just Usagi.
 
        "Chibi-usa, didn't I tell you not to run off?" Usagi
 scolded, obviously irritated, as she led Chibi-usa away.
 
        "Fine, I won't anymore! Now will you go and leave me
 alone?"
 
        "No." Usagi had already seen Mamoru with Rei, and
 while she would leave him alone about it, she knew she was
 going to give Rei an ear-splitting wail later on,  to show her
 disapproval in Rei's latest actions. Usagi had expected better
 of her friend.
 
 
 
 
        A couple of hours later, Usagi sat on her bed twiddling her
 hair, as Usagi continued to contemplate the same question she
 had been for the past hour. After having spent 14 years of her
 life observing her talent for goofing off, Usagi knew very well by
 now that the quality of her thinking was as good as what cats
 could think of- excluding Luna and Artemis that is.
 
        Reluctantly she took the brooch she always wore on
 her chest, and after opening the case, she looked thoughtfully
 at the glittering ginzishiou. To the eyes of an average person,
 they would think that this silver stone was merely a rather
 expensive piece of jewelry. But to Usagi, this stone meant
 death of life at the moment of a crisis. It was her transforming
 tool to Sailor Moon. And most importantly, it was the key to
 her past life self, Princess Serenity.
 
        Serenity. A woman Usagi could never be. A Princess
 with unimaginable powers Usagi wouldn't ever hope of using.
 Just like her name, she was serene, a trait Usagi couldn't claim
 to posses. And yet, somehow, Usagi shared the same soul as
 this magnificent person. 
 
        Usagi dreaded the thought of turning into Princess
 Serenity, and she had good reason to. The last two times she
 returned to her former self hadn't been in pleasant
 circumstances; the first time was while her beloved laid dying at
 her feet, and the second was when she was saving the world
 from an evil source that had destroyed her old kingdom,
 known as Metalia. In other words, her reversion to Serenity
 had bought on her death.
 
        Yet now Usagi needed the wisdom of the person she
 feared so much to help her decide to deal with Mamoru, or
 as Serenity knew him, Endymion. It had been so easy to simply
 say she'd never look at him that way ever again; well, easy
 compared to acting out on it. Aided by the Moon Princess's
 rationality, Usagi would be able to make the right choice for her
 and her true love.
 
        Gathering the small amount of courage Usagi had
 earned as Sailor Moon, she prepared to disappear and to be
 replaced by the more mature piece of her. A small part of her
 wondered what it would be like to be Princess Serenity, since this
 would be the first time she changed without some danger at hand.
 
        Usagi held the ginzishiou in front of her, beginning to
 withdraw the magic pulsating in the stone and drew it into
 herself. She held the magic in herself as a bowl would hold
 water, until it began to pour out, at which point she stopped
 gathering the magical force.
 
        She opened her closed eyes once the metamorphose was
 finished, and took a second to orient herself. Curiosity overcame
 her, and she moved towards the mirror situated above Usagi's
 dresser; she hadn't seen herself in over a thousand years, and it
 had proven itself to be a long time, for she barely remembered
 her appearance.
 
        Noticing symbol of her heritage shinning proudly on
 her forehead, she went on to study her other features. Her blue
 eyes were the same as Usagi's, but that wasn't so surprising
 since she had always believed the eyes revealed the soul. it
 was a sheer coincidence, though, that they both had odangos
 sitting on her head; that had been the trademark of the princesses
 and queens of the moon kingdom, and how Usagi ever came
 across it was a mystery.
 
        Once she felt she had viewed herself enough, Serenity sat
 in Usagi's bed. It was... weird to be in the room of the girl that
 had taken care of her soul after her own death, as it was so wildly
 different from the one she had grown up in the moon. But then
 again, so was the society both girls had been bought up to, so
 that would help explain it, but still, she felt lonely without her
 chart of the solar system and the portraits of her fellow ancestors.
 
        As Serenity lamented over the differences between the
 two rooms, she noticed a photograph sitting near the bed. Picking
 it up carefully, her heart sank as she looked at the subjects of the
 photo. In it, Usagi was laughing happily, holding the hand of a
 man resembling Endymion, who had to be Mamoru. Mamoru
 was glancing down at his girlfriend, his smile brilliant. 
 
        "Endymion-sama..." She whispered, holding the picture
 tightly to her chest. So long ago, they had promised to always
 remain together through the worst of pains and through the
 lightest of problems. Never had the thought that he'd leave
 her occurred to her; it was too... wrong. Just as the Moon would
 always revolve around the Earth, Serenity would always love
 Endymion.
 
        Having finished shedding her tears over him, Serenity
 pondered what to do. Unlike Usagi, she couldn't morph into a
 wiser person, so she was stuck with making the decision that
 would forever follow both her and Usagi. Were Serenity to
 make the wrong choice, she'd.... she'd... to put it simply, she'd
 never forgive herself.
 
        He had to have some good reason for toying with her
 emotions as of late; nasty as Mamoru and caring as ever as Tuxedo
 Kamen. Serenity could always tell what was troubling Endymion,
 but she didn't have enough information. She would just have to
 take his word for it.
 
        He loved her still. There was no denying it. Little
 things tipped that off, such as his reaction to Usagi's words
 last night, and his unchanging concern for Sailor Moon's safety. With
 that in mind, Serenity decided that for whatever reason
 Endymion had left her, it must have been a very good one.
 It might be best to take his silent word on it, and separate
 forever.
 
        'But,' Serenity mused, 'Isn't love meant to conquer
 all?'. A clich, perhaps, but it was a concept Serenity was very
 familiar with; when nothing else seemed to work, it was always
 Endymion's love for her that shined through, and saved her
 from whatever predicament held her prisoner.
 
        Their love was strong, there was no doubt. But she also
 had to consider Endymion's point of view, using only estimates
 to understand his problem, which made matters harder.
 
        Curling her fingers around the photo frame and hugging
 it tightly to her chest, Serenity realized what she had to do. A
 low, gentle sob rose from her throat as she reverted back into
 Usagi.
 



	Isabel Arantes